Frank Perdue

Date of Birth: May 9, 1920

Zodiac Sign: Taurus

Date of Death: March 31, 2005

Biography

Frank Perdue was an American businessman renowned for transforming his family’s poultry farm into one of the largest and most successful chicken producers in the United States. Born into a farming family, Perdue took over the family business and introduced innovative marketing and production techniques that revolutionized the poultry industry. He was known for his hands-on approach and his famous advertising slogan, “It takes a tough man to make a tender chicken.” Under his leadership, Perdue Farms grew exponentially, becoming synonymous with quality and innovation in the poultry market.

5 Interesting Facts about Frank Perdue

1. Frank Perdue was one of the first CEOs to become a spokesperson for his own company, appearing in over 200 TV commercials.

2. He introduced rigorous quality control measures and was a pioneer in branding poultry products.

3. Perdue Farms, under his leadership, became the first company to successfully breed and market chickens with yellow skin, which was preferred by consumers at the time.

4. He was known for his distinctive gravelly voice and straightforward manner, which made his commercials memorable.

5. Frank Perdue was a philanthropist who supported numerous causes, including education and healthcare, through the Arthur W. Perdue Foundation.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Frank Perdue

1. “It takes a tough man to make a tender chicken.”

2. “Quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten.”

3. “My chickens eat better than most people.”

4. “The customer can fire everybody in the company, from the chairman on down, simply by spending his money somewhere else.”

5. “We don’t sell chicken, we sell Perdue chicken.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At the time of his death in 2005, Frank Perdue’s net worth was estimated to be around $1.2 billion.

Children

Frank Perdue had four children: Beverly Perdue, Sandra Perdue Johnson, Anne Perdue, and James (Jim) Perdue. Jim Perdue succeeded his father as the chairman of Perdue Farms and continued to lead the company towards further growth and innovation.